Sacramento Digs Gardening: Garden through the coronavirus crisis

The natural world is still there -- get out and enjoy it. (Photo: Kathy Morrison)

Reasons why getting outdoors is good for you

At least you can still garden.

During the coronavirus crisis, people are re-evaluating what they can and cannot do. The list of “cannots” seems to be getting longer by the minute.

But gardening is a relatively solo activity. Plants are not coronavirus carriers. We can be safe while tending our flowers and vegetables.

Here are some reasons to keep gardening during the coronavirus closures:

1. Gardening relieves stress. The current atmosphere of crisis has been extremely stressful. Our immune systems are more vulnerable when we’re stressed out. Less stress; we’re automatically healthier.

2. Gardening is good exercise. Getting outdoors and doing something physical helps keep us healthier, too.

3. Our garden needs us. Its care is our responsibility. Go out and see how things are growing, especially during this ever-changing almost-spring weather. What’s sprouting? What’s about to bloom?

4. Gardening feels normal. We need some normalcy during such uncertain times. In gardening, we (almost) have a sense of control that’s lacking in everything else right now.

5. Our garden can feed us. (Especially if we concentrate on growing edibles.) We may need those fresh vegetables, fruits and herbs.

6. Gardens lift our spirits. Bring some flowers indoors to enjoy. Share a bouquet with a friend. It will bring some much-needed joy.

7. Gardens help us focus on the future. Gardeners are always planning ahead – what to plant, when to harvest. By looking ahead, we help assure ourselves that there is a positive outcome, that life will get back to normal and we will have time and reason to smell the roses.

So, be healthy, stay safe and keep gardening! We’ll be there to help.

GENERAL GARDENING

An article about gardening.

Keywords:

gardening Sacramento exercise coronavirus garden plans stress management why garden edible gardens flowers

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Garden Checklist for week of Nov. 3

November still offers good weather for fall planting:

* If you haven't already, it's time to clean up the remains of summer. Pull faded annuals and vegetables. Prune dead or broken branches from trees.

* Now is the best time to plant most trees and shrubs. This gives them plenty of time for root development before spring growth. They also benefit from fall and winter rains.

* Set out cool-weather annuals such as pansies and snapdragons.

* Lettuce, cabbage and broccoli also can be planted now.

* Plant garlic and onions.

* Keep planting bulbs to spread out your spring bloom. Some possible suggestions: daffodils, crocuses, hyacinths, tulips, anemones and scillas.

* This is also a good time to seed wildflowers and plant such spring bloomers as sweet pea, sweet alyssum and bachelor buttons.

* Rake and compost leaves, but dispose of any diseased plant material. For example, if peach and nectarine trees showed signs of leaf curl this year, clean up under trees and dispose of those leaves instead of composting.

* Save dry stalks and seedpods from poppies and coneflowers for fall bouquets and holiday decorating.

* For holiday blooms indoors, plant paperwhite narcissus bulbs now. Fill a shallow bowl or dish with 2 inches of rocks or pebbles. Place bulbs in the dish with the root end nestled in the rocks. Add water until it just touches the bottom of the bulbs. Place the dish in a sunny window. Add water as needed.

* Give your azaleas, gardenias and camellias a boost with chelated iron.

* For larger blooms, pinch off some camellia buds.

* Prune non-flowering trees and shrubs while dormant.

* To help prevent leaf curl, apply a copper fungicide spray to peach and nectarine trees after they lose their leaves this month. Leaf curl, which shows up in the spring, is caused by a fungus that winters as spores on the limbs and around the tree in fallen leaves. Sprays are most effective now.

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